This Bandwagon Can't be Stopped

Before
we get to the incredibly exciting news out of Ireland and the U.S., we
would like to remind you to please continue sharing FAN’s latest press release throughout this week. Sunday was the 70th
Anniversary of Fluoridation in the U.S. and the fluoride-lobby is
planning a massive PR campaign to capitalize on the milestone. It’s up
to us to set the record straight, so please continue to send the press
release to your local media outlets and share it on social media, along
with our Professional Perspectives video, our 10 Facts video, and FAN’s advocacy handouts.

Second Irish Victory in 2015

2015
could be the biggest year yet in the worldwide campaign to end
fluoridation. While we may not be able to end the practice entirely this
year, it is possible that we could see the end of national fluoridation
mandates, as well as see the beginning of the end for statewide
mandates in the U.S.

In
2012, the Australian state of Queensland ended their fluoridation
mandate. In 2014, Israel’s Minister of Health ended their national
mandate, leaving Ireland as the only remaining country with a national
fluoridation policy. Now the dominoes are falling in Ireland with the
second major community calling for an end to fluoridation in 2015 and
the 7th in the past year.

On January 12, the elected County Council in Leitrim, Ireland (pop. 39,000) passed a motion calling
on the Government to amend the Health (Fluoridation of Water) Act 1960
and subsequent Statutory Instrument (42/2007 Fluoridation of Water
Supplies Regulations 2007), and to ban the addition of fluoride to water
supplies.” The motion received unanimous support from the council.

When contacted for further comment Leitrim Councilor Barry (SF) said:

“That
the policy of adding fluoride to water needed to stop...This is a neuro
toxic industrial waste which can cause damage to the nervous system.
Fluoridation is banned in 98% of European countries. The Irish
government continues to impose fluoride on the Irish people and on top
of that it is now forcing us to pay for it through water charges. The
European Commission is on record as saying people do not need fluoride
for normal growth and development. Fluoridation of water needs to stop
immediately.”

On the same day, January 12th, the Wexford County Council—representing approximately 150,000 residents-- passed the same motion. The
votes come only a few months after Cork and Dublin, the two largest
cities in the country passed motions along with Cork County Council and
Laois County Council doing so earlier in 2014. Together these councils
represent approximately 1.7 million residents.

While
local and county councils don’t have the authority to end fluoridation
in Ireland the continued passage of the motions against fluoridation
cannot be ignored for much longer. The Irish Government is coming under
mounting national cross-party political pressure to end public water
fluoridation in the run up to the impending General Election planned for
2016.

Ireland isn’t the only part of the world where residents are fed up with mandated fluoridation. In the U.S., where a dozen or so
states have mandates, legislators are starting to introduce bills to
give local communities a choice in the matter. Already in 2015 mandate
reversing legislation has been introduced in Connecticut and Minnesota,
with more states possibly introducing similar bills this legislative
session.

In
Connecticut, where fluoridation is mandated for all communities with
20,000 or more residents, several Senators are co-sponsoring a bill that
would eliminate this requirement. For those of you who live in
Connecticut and would like to get involved in this campaign, please
contact local organizers Connecticut Families Against Chemical Trespass.

In
Minnesota, where fluoridation in mandated in all public water systems,
Representatives Jeff Howe and Ron Kresha have co-sponsored a bill
that would give municipalities the ability to opt-out of the
fluoridation mandate by amending their city charters to prohibit the
practice. If you live in Minnesota and would like to get involved in
this campaign you can contact local organizers Earth Protectors or email FAN’s Campaign Manager (stuart@fluoridealert.org).